New police team sent into seven East Cornwall towns

A new police team is being moved around East Cornwall to deal with the kind of crime that grinds away at everyday life. Stolen cars, drug dealing in known spots, and antisocial behaviour in busy public places are all on the list. And the officers running it want residents to know one thing in particular.

Who the new team is

The Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) is made up of six PCs and a Sergeant. Their job is to put more officers on the ground in neighbourhoods, reassure communities, deter offenders and prevent crime before it happens.

Rather than staying in one place, the team is deployed to different areas across East Cornwall for set periods. That lets them take on both quick problems and longer-running ones, from localised vehicle thefts to drug dealing in known locations and antisocial behaviour in high footfall public areas.

What residents will see

PS Jim Wellard heads up the NST. He said the focus is on the issues that hit residents and visitors hardest in their daily lives.

“Communities can expect to see our team carrying out high-visibility foot patrols, leading targeted enforcement activity, including stop searches, to disrupt criminal activity such as drug dealing, and house-to-house enquiries to encourage reporting,” Jim said.

Inspector Greg Hodgkiss was keen to point out that this kind of work is not new to the area.

“To be clear, problem-solving and preventative police work of this nature already takes place in the area,” Greg said. He added that the extra support from the NST helps local neighbourhood teams across Cornwall push that proactive work further and make a difference more quickly.

“The team bring with them a wide range of experience and specialist skills. We’ve already seen the positive impact the NST has made on local communities across the county so far, tackling specific every-day issues that blight local communities,” Greg said.

Where they have already been

Targeted action has already taken place in Launceston, Bude, Looe, Liskeard, St Austell, Wadebridge and Newquay.

Early results include arrests for robbery and shoplifting, the location of a wanted man and help with missing person searches. The team has also run high-visibility patrols at events, including the World Gig Championships, which draws thousands of people to the Isles of Scilly.

The one thing police are asking for

For all the patrols and enforcement, Jim had a direct message for the public. Keep reporting.

“Without your reports, it makes it difficult for us to understand where and when crime is happening. The more you tell us, the more we can do about it,” he said.

This is the second NST to work across Cornwall.

Anyone with information or concerns about crime can report it to Devon & Cornwall Police through the online reporting form or by calling 101. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555111. If a crime is taking place, always call 999.